PHOTOS: Indian, US troops set Thar desert on fire!

Armed forces of India and United States on Tuesday executed a joint cordon and search drill to neutralise suspected insurgents, in a specially-constructed training area at the ranges in an abandoned village as part of the ongoing Yudh Abhyas 2012 exercise.

The ongoing series of joint exercises between the two armies has been underway since March 5 in two locations under the South Western Command.

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March 13 saw the Indian and US troops establish a cordon using their combat vehicles at night and then conduct dismounted searches by day to flush out insurgents as also use the third dimension (helicopters) as part of the drill.

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The exercise, codenamed 'Desert Lark', focussed on the challenges faced by sappers in the domain of countering threats of improvised explosive devices, infrastructure development in strife torn regions and inaccessible areas and execution of rescue and relief operations during natural calamities or disasters.

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The exercise provided an excellent opportunity to both sides to understand functioning of Engineer Brigades with special emphasis on operations under United Nations mandate in troubled areas.

This is the seventh edition of Yudh Abhyas.

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The US Army contingent is from the US Army Pacific, part of their Pacific Command.

While the field training exercises are being conducted at Mahajan range, the Army Engineers from both sides are involved in Ex Sarvada Saviour at Bathinda.

"Ex Sarvada Saviour is focused on challenges faced by Sappers in countering threats of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), infrastructure development in strife torn regions and execution of rescue and relief operations during natural calamities or disasters," an army official said.

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The command post exercise has an engineer brigade headquarters with its planners from both sides, while the field training exercise comprises troops of 2nd Squadron 14th US Cavalry Regiment from 25th infantry division, Hawaii, along with a platoon of Strykers, and a similar sized Indian Army contingent of mechanised infantry.

The event is all the more interesting as a number of key surveillance, communications and improvised explosive devices detection and neutralisation technologies, available with both sides have been fielded in the exercise.  

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